Wigan Athletic will travel to Premier League strugglers Cardiff City on Saturday believing that they can take another step closer to a third Wembley visit in two years.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Welsh outfit have found respite from their poor top-flight form in FA Cup progress, but they will not want to follow Wigan in winning the trophy and being relegated in the same season.
A Ben Watson header saw the Latics shock Manchester City last May to win the competition for the first time in their history, but they were condemned to Championship football less than a week later.
They have since lost two managers and a number of star players, but the Lancashire outfit have improved vastly under Uwe Rosler and still boast a squad capable of upsetting Premier League sides.
Watson and another of their Wembley heroes, Callum McManaman, could both be named in a midfield that remains without Shaun Maloney, who is sidelined with a long-term hip injury.
Cardiff loanee Nicky Maynard, who netted a brace in the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, is ineligible to face his parent club and therefore Marc Antoine-Fortune could be recalled in attack.
Spanish centre-back Ivan Ramis, who was the subject of interest from the Bluebirds in the last transfer window only to fail a medical, has not played since January 1 but may be fit to partner Leon Barnett - the only player to have started every one of Wigan's 29 Championship games this season.
The hosts are without Craig Bellamy as the Welshman serves the second game of a three-match suspension, while Jordan Mutch limped off in the first half of the goalless draw with Aston Villa in midweek.
Magnus Eikrem was his replacement and the young Norwegian is likely to be promoted to the starting XI to face Wigan, against whom Spanish defender Cala could make his debut in place of Ben Turner.
Solskjaer paired Kenwyne Jones and Frazier Campbell up front last time out and may persist with a two-man attack. Peter Whittingham will probably be recalled as the extra midfield body if he does not.
Recent form
Cardiff: DLWLWL
Wigan: WLWDWL
Possible starting lineups
Cardiff: Marshall; Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Cala, John; Noone, Medel, Eikrem, Zaha; Campbell, Jones
Wigan: Al Habsi; Perch, Barnett, Boyce, Beausejour; McClean, McArthur, McCann, Watson, McManaman; Fortune,
Sports Mole says: 2-1
Joe Fish
